Corn-harvesting machine



Dec. 6, 1927 J. VAN NORTWICK CORN HARVESTING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l KN A WW Wm I a x $1 Q mm Q Q MK. M. N. a Q Q Dec. 6, 1927.

J. VAN NORTWICK CORN HARVESTING MACHINE Filed April 24, 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mb a v Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,422

J. VAN NORTWICK CORN HARVESTING MACHINE Filed April 2 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jmmzm' %%w 7% Zwmu Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

JOHN VAN NORTWICK, OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO APPLE'ION MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CORN-HARVESTING MACHINE.

Application filed April 24, 1924. Serial No. 708,613.

- This invention relates to a corn picking and husking machine.

One of theobjects of. the present invention is to provide a simplified and improved construction of a corn harvesting machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a generally improved frame construe tion in the form of an arch above the traction wheels for supporting the operative'elements of the corn harvesting machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved andnovel form of husking mechanism which-is adapted to cooperate with the snapping or picking rolls of the corn harvesting machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simplified construction of the corn harvesting machine in which the operative elements are so arranged with respect to each other that the ears of corn being picked and husked are notcaused to be conveyed or handled unnecessarily.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

' Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of my improved corn picking machine. 1

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.'

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view showing the position of my improved husking mechanism-and its operative position with respect to'the other parts of themachine.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the lines 44 in Fig. 3 showing the relative position of the husking rolls with respect to the conveyor for conveying the ears of corn over the husking rolls, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the man ner in which my improved husking and conveying mechanism is op'eratively driven.

In carrying out my invention I have provided-a novel frame construction whichcomprises a main frame 10, which is in the form of an arch or inverted substantially U-shaped construction. This arch member comprises a transversely-extending channel member 11 which has secured onits outer ends substantially vertical depending brackets12 and 13. These brackets 12 and 13 are provided at their lower'ends, with apertures 14 and 15' which are adapted to have secured therein a main axle 16. 'Journalled on the axle 16 adjacent the brackets 12 and 13, respectively, are the two usual traction wheels 17, which, in'turn, have secured thereto the usual 'driving'sprockets 18. The arch frame member 10 is positoned' suiiicientlyhigh above the traction wheels 17 to permit ample clearance between the top of the rotating wheels and the frame. Rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 19 and 20, which are secured to the channel member 11, is a supplemental drive shaft 21, which is operatively driven or geared to the main driving sprockets 18 by means of chains 22 and sprocket wheels 23.

Extendinglongitudinallyof the frame and secured in any well known manner to the main axle 16 are two supplemental frame members 24 and 25. The forward end of the supplemental framelnembers 24 and 25 are bent toward each other, as shown at 26 and come together as shown at 27 to a point where they extend parallel to each other, where they are secured to a bracket 28, which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on the truck wheels 29 of the usual'tongue truck 30. The supplemental frame members 26 and main arch frame member 10 are secured together by cross thrust braces 31 and 32. The cross thrust braces 31 and 32 are secured together at their intersection by a spacing bolt 33. From this description it will. readily be seen that I have provided a very simple and rigid frame construction and onein which the main frame member is arranged to support all the operative elements from a point above the traction wheels of the machine. Mounted forwardly and to one side of the arch frame member 10 are the usual upwardly inclined stalk guiding members 34.

'Positioned adjacent the inner edges of the and 36 are operatively driven by, shafts 40 and 41, respectively. which are provided with the usual miter gears42 and-43. The

shafts 40 and 41 are geared to one of the V snapping rolls 37 by means of a chain '44 and Y vided with pinions 69 which mesh sprocket wheels 45. The mechanism for conveying the staiks and for snapping the ears oil the stalks of corn and the opera tive connections for driving these parts is well known in the art, and per so does not form any part of the present invention, for which reason a more detailed description is unnecessary. 1 y

Positioned :uljacentthe inner snapping; roll 37 and running in a direction longitudinally of the machine an endlessconveyor 46 which provided atregular intervals with paddles 47 for conveying the ears olt corn which are snapped by the snapping rolls upwardly in an inclinedtrough t8, in which the endless conveyor -10 und paddlesti travel. The endless conveyor as is opera-- tively driven by a hevelled gear el-il which i has a sprocket formed integrally therewith and engages the chain of the ci'uiveyor. The hevelledgear 49 meshes with a bevelled gear 50 which in turn is secured to a rhatt hi.

The shaft 51 is mounted in hcnrinu' nienihers 53 and operatively driven hy a sprocket chain M, which, in turn derives its power from a sprocket 55 secured to the supplemental drive shaft 21. i The lower end of the endless conve vor tti is geared to a :proel-:- et 56 which is journallcd ina hcarii 17,1 not sllOWn, tlt the lower end oi the trough is. One of the novel finiturcsol' my improved corn picking machine is the provision of ill] improved term of a husking mcclnijnism and the position which it bears with respect to the other operative GlGlllOlliIF-l oi the ma chine. This C(llllPllSill a plurality of in clined huskinn rolls 5?. which are wrang ed transversely at the rear of the machine with respect to the longitudinal direction or the machine and arerotatahly lrnounted in the hearings on either end of the rolls,whieh, in turn are supported in l rzune meiuhers 59 secured to the transverse trnmc meinhcr [30 which is supported on the supplemental frame mcmhers 2d: and 253. The. hushine rollsv are provided with the usual projections on the peripheral tare thereotl not shmvn for removing; the husks from the ears of corn as they are conveyed over the upper nurture o! the rolls, y

The husking rolls 5? are driven it) a vlongitudinallyextending vhal t til which in rotatahly anountcd in a hearing bracket formed integrally with the hrnriugril and in a hearing: hr (ct (33 which is se cured to the incline" shai't til." is twicrn'l1vciy driven hy hrvellc l gears (15. one oi which is secured to the supplcu'icntal drive shaft iii id the other of which issecured to the forward r-nd ol the loinl'itudinal shaft (ll. il lltl rear end o t the shaft liLis provided w th :r/ oroc et and chain 66, which is geared to a pi'r ct t3? secured tor, sl'ezilt 68, The shnlt i8 is pro- 'ith two bent spur gears 72 of two outside husking rolls.

corrcspondin pinions 70, which. in turn, :uesecured to the two inner husliiing rolls. 'lhe pinions have "formed integrally therei'fh spur goers 71 which inclsh witl'radja- Il romtlic ahovc descriptitm it will readily be seen thnt the supplemental drive shaft 21 derives its power tron'r the traction wheel lt through the main drive sprockets [.8 and drive chains 2:2 and transmits its power to the husking; rolls through the mesh ng gears 65, through the sl aft (31, chain and sprockets (3(3 and U7, tlrrcuurh shaft 68 and bevelled gears *l'O and it and spur gears 72, which are secured to the rotating l'rusking rolls =57.

Another novel 'l'eature of In 1 improved hueking mcrhanisn'i is the provision of an ei'ldleils hel t positioned over the husking rolls fl'ijir depressing the ears in contact with the husking rolls and at the same time eonroving the ears .longitudimdly of: the huskh1 9; rolls during; the time lllltllllSliS are heine; removed from the ears and also* for dcliveri $1 the husked ears to the delivery or elevator chute. This improved incehanism comprises on endless steel conveyor 7% which has its lower end mounted on idler sprockets 7 1: which are journalled on a shaft T5 sci-tired to the supporthi). The conveyor is oljiei'utively driven lay a roller Tomountcd Hijack-lit to and spaced tronr the upper ends of the bushing rollshi'. The drive roller To is secured to a shatt T7 \VlliUlliS journalled in a hearing plate or support 78, which in turn is secured to the framememher (it. The roller 76 driven by n sprocket T5) which is secured to a i-shu'lt in common with the roller and the sprocketisopcrw tivcly driven by a chain 80 whichis geared to a: syn'oeket 81 which is secured to the shaft (38, see Fig. 5; This siju'ockct Slcng'gnges the underiapping ol the chain Si") and the chain 80 is hold in contact with the s n-lick et by an idler s n'ocket 8:2, as clearly shown in Figs, 3 and One end of thcehain St) is trained around a sprocket ti which is secured to a shaft Sit mounted inhcarinns. not shown, secured to the Frame memhcr HF. From the above description it will be seen that as the hhskingr, rolls 57 are rotated for removing the husks oft theears of corn that the endless conveyor belt 73 will pressthe ears in contact with the rolls and at the sanie time convey them down the inclined rolls to the delivery or elevator chute 88 of the n1uchine. Positioned hetween the deliveryend of the inclined conveyor 4-6 which conveys the corn from the snapping rolls 37 and the bushing rolls 57 I have provided an inclined chuteST which delivers the corn on to the husking rolls as clearly shown in Fig. 3. From the ahove description itwilliie read ily seen that I have provided an improved arch frame construction in which all the oplit) is directly conveyed after once it is snapped ofi the stalks by the snapping rolls to the husking rolls which lay transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of themachine from whence it is delivered into the delivery chute 88 where it is conveyed to the wagon box.

It will also be noted that with my iniproved construction that by positioning the husking rolls at an inclined angle and positio'ning an endless belt conveyor. over the husing rolls I have provided a novel and improved form of positively pressing the ears they are being husked against the husking rolls and also providing a means of corn as I for positively conveying themllongitudinally of the husking rolls during the timethey are being husked. 1

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will, of course, be understood that the same is capable of modification and that modification may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a corn picking and husking machine, of husking rolls, and means positioned above said rolls for depressing unhusked ears of corn into close engagement with said rollsand conveying ears of corn longitudinally of said rolls.

2. The combination in a corn picking and husking machine, of husking rolls, and

means positioned above said rolls for de-' pressing unhusked ears of corn into close engagement with said rolls and conveying ears of corn longitudinally of said rolls comprising a plurality of transverse conveyor strips flexibly connected together.

3. The combination in a corn picking and husking machine, of husking rolls, and means positioned above said rolls for depressing unhusked ears of corn into close engagement with said rolls and conveying ears of corn longitudinally of said rolls comprising a plurality of steel conveyor stripsarranged in parallel relation and flexibly connected together.

4:- The combination in a corn picking and husking machine, of husking rolls arranged in a plurality of pairs in substantially parallel relation, means for depressing unhusked ears of corn against said husking rolls and for conveying them longitudinally of said rolls comprising a plurality of metallic members arranged in substantially parallel relaation, and having flexible interconnecting means to form an endlessbelt of a width sutficient to extend over said husking rolls, and means for supporting and rotatingv said endless conveyor belt with the lower lap of the belt suspended above said husking rolls.

5. The combination in a corn picking and husking machine, of husking rolls arranged in a. plurality of pairs in substantially parallel relation, means for depressing unhusked ears of corn against said husking rolls and for conveying them longitudinally of said roils, comprising a plurality of metallic' members arranged in substantially parallel relation, and having flexible interconnecting means to form an endless belt of a width sufiicient to extend over each of said husking rolls, and means for supporting and rotating said endless belt with the lower lap thereof suspended above the top of said rolls, power being applied .to said means so that the loose run of said flexible belt will be that 'adjacent'the top side of said husking rolls.

6. The combination in a corn picking and husking machine, or husking rolls arranged in a plurality of co-operating pairs, and means for resiliently pressing unhusked ears of corn toward said rolls and for conveying such ears longitudinally of said rolls comprising a plurality of transverse members flexibly connected together and resiliently pressing upon ears fed to said rolls and being adapted at the same time to move said ears longitudinally of said rolls.

7. The combination in a corn picking and husking machine, of husking rolls arranged in a plurality of co-operative pairs in substantially parallel relation, a plurality of feeding and pressure strips flexibly connected and yieldingly suspended over the top side of said'rolls and in close proximity thereto, and means for moving said strips longitudinally of said rolls.

8. The combination in a corn picking and husking machine, of a pair of co-operating husking rolls, and means for moving unhusked ears of corn longitudinally of said husking machine, of husking rolls arranged in a plurality of pairs in substantially parallel relation, and means for conveying unhusked ears of corn from one end thereof to the other, comprising an endless belt formed of metallic members flexibly connected t0= gether in substantially parallel relation with the loose run thereof suspended immediately above said husking rolls,said members beingarranged transversely of said rolls and of a length to extend substantially from one sidv ofsnid to the Op} il'e side thmfcu'f, wherhy to feed Quid unh n sked eur'g longitudinally of said hrmki11grul1s and mm1- tii niously press ezmh oifsaic l ears toward the fifcctflivc lnwking portions of Quid Tolls.

14), The bombinnttm i11 1:0111 pipking and huskj ng n.1nclfli10, ui husking rolls mums pusitinnud above, amid rolls my pi'esillg mr lulsked onus of mil-h into (close nngimgmwnt with said Pulls m1 a-mlwving ears of cog-11 loligil mlhuiily of mid r0115. mid means comprising; x plmulipy 0t u mfiulliu nl un'lbem urranged in subslumiuliy pm'nllei. l'blzt'tinn and having flexiblu inim-mszmvu iing means in form 2111 and :4 belt and mg-ms for supportin said I) U comprising a pair of .sliblillulb t'l a lyyumllel a] fts hwnmw'suly disposed with reSpe-tt'fu suiil 1 0l1--1 and 1.:m. -:it'ruued respectively mfijmuni tlw opposite minis thewnf, inla manner to mmw Huslack m: 00130 min of the belt toyiuhihlgiily n t the 0111's Of corn aglfinsix said r0115 d ring theh'rmsi (if the hairs along suifistzmtlully the entire length of said rolls.

T1. The umnbinziiaion in :1 olhpickingmitl lmsicii'a g machine, of 1 plurality (if pln rs of husicingfloils arranged in substantially pziv MM riutidnfllinrxs for depressingunhuskcd of with against; said rolls and fox' cQnv 3311;; Cars 11 00111 longitudinally thei'eof, mid mums vmizprisiilg :hphualiflydf SUI) M21211 iuHy inlwliflmeinhul's flexibly connedb mi m farm 11:: endless belt of a widthstiffl violjli in criie ml mur mum-h of said husking mils; and a pair (11 mm for supporting said MIL 125111 of suzdsliufls being osni'oned .IUHN VAN NORTWTGK. 

